News Article

City Of Newark Strikes Long Awaited Deal With New Jersey Devils

By Alexandra Hill, WBGO News
February 26, 2013

After years of disputes, court battles, and arbitration, the city of Newark has finally struck a deal with the New Jersey Devils.

The deal passed in the city council by a vote of 7 to 1. It includes a surcharge on tickets for all events at the Prudential Center. Even though the city must still pay the Devils $2.7 million per year for parking revenue as ordered in last year’s arbitration, this new deal will allow the city to build a parking deck in which the team will rent space. City Councilman Anibal Ramos says it’s not perfect, but at least it will bring revenue to the city.

“This is actually going to offset the parking letter which basically positions the city to owe the Devils money every year which is crazy when the city invested over $200 million in the construction of this arena.”

City officials project that over the course of the team’s 25 year lease the deal could bring in a projected $50 million to the city.

Newark Today

A monthly, one-hour, live call-in program focusing on social, economic and political topics pertaining to Newark.

Black History is American History. On the February episode of Newark Today, we talk about where we've been -- and where we're going -- with former Newark Mayor Ken Gibson and current Mayor Ras Baraka. Plus long-time activist and community organizer Larry Hamm.

Conversations with Allan Wolper

Sam Schwartz is known worldwide as Gridlock Sam, a nickname the media gave him for his role in coining the term, Gridlock. As New York City's traffic commissioner in the 1980's, he designed transportation plans for numerous crowded corners across The Big Apple. He is a columnist for New York's Daily News, where he reminds motorists whether they are tempting fate and a traffic ticket by parking on the wrong side of the street. His company, Sam Schwartz Engineering, devised the transportation plan for the Barclays Center in Brooklyn and the trolley system in Aruba.

SportsJam with Doug Doyle

Two of host Doug Doyle's students at Bloomfield College are stars in their respective sports. Senior Guard Marvin Williams has become the fifth player to ever score 1500 points there, while Sophomore Elizabeth Meyer made her presence felt on the front line of the women's volleyball team.